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According to the Centers for Disease Control: "Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represent approximately 2% of the US population,..."

But since we have the CDC information at hand, let's see how that sentence finishes:

"...yet are the population most severely affected by HIV and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s. In 2006, MSM accounted for more than half (53%) of all new HIV infections in the United States, and MSM with a history of injection drug use (MSM-IDU) accounted for an additional 4% of new infections. At the end of 2006, more than half (53%) of all people living with HIV in the United States were MSM or MSM-IDU. Since the beginning of the US epidemic, MSM have consistently represented the largest percentage of persons diagnosed with AIDS and persons with an AIDS diagnosis who have died."http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/

Have you looked on the other side of the stats to see the rise in HIV/AIDS among heterosexual people? It is interesting.

There is no "gay gene". As with other sexual sins, it's a behavior that can be changed and has been proven through organizations like Exodus International and PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays). There are many factors that are influential when it comes to someone choosing homosexual behavior, but it isn't genetic.

No simple, single cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated, but research suggests that it is by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences, with biological factors involving a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Biological factors which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual orientation include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure. So, sexual orientation is not simply a lifestyle choice, as you suggest.

Yet Scripture tells us to judge righteously.

Yes, and make sure that you are qualified to judge before you take that mantle upon yourself. An unqualified judge runs the risk of not only leading others astray, but also of becoming a sanctimonious joke among his peers.

Respect God by showing people the path to eternal life. (You might hurt some feelings along the way and even not be liked, be prepared for it).

When it comes to the path to eternal life, we should walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Mayhap, by my example, someone else may walk in mine. Perhaps it may be presumptuous of me to do a show-and-tell at this point, however, since God made this path for each of us according to our needs. Since the path to eternal life is not a one-size-fits-all, I will walk my own path and leave the teaching to God.

although I think it's funny to argue homosexuality is a choice. That implies they could willingly choose to have sex with somebody of the same gender, whereas I would not because I am not gay. Do you see my point?

although I think it's funny to argue homosexuality is a choice. That implies they could willingly choose to have sex with somebody of the same gender, whereas I would not because I am not gay. Do you see my point?

I do but good luck with it as some seem insistent that you can choose to be attracted to that which you simply aren't, despite any protestations you offer to the contrary unfortunately....

.., sexual orientation is not simply a lifestyle choice, as you suggest.

But acting on it is, and that's the point.

Yes, and make sure that you are qualified to judge before you take that mantle upon yourself. An unqualified judge runs the risk of not only leading others astray, but also of becoming a sanctimonious joke among his peers.

When it comes to the path to eternal life, we should walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Mayhap, by my example, someone else may walk in mine. Perhaps it may be presumptuous of me to do a show-and-tell at this point, however, since God made this path for each of us according to our needs. Since the path to eternal life is not a one-size-fits-all, I will walk my own path and leave the teaching to God.

No simple, single cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated, but research suggests that it is by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences, with biological factors involving a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Biological factors which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual orientation include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure. So, sexual orientation is not simply a lifestyle choice, as you suggest.

This bears repeating: Truth AND relationship.
Truth without relationship is a cold hard hammer. We are 'lights' and 'salt' on earth. Jesus picked these representative terms for His church carefully.
"People don't care what we know until they know we care."
Jesus and the Pharisees
In His first confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus was congenial: Luke 5

Luk 5:20 And seeing their faith, He said to him, Man, your sins are forgiven you.
Luk 5:21 And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, except God alone?
Luk 5:22 But knowing their thoughts, answering, Jesus said to them, Why do you reason in your hearts?
Luk 5:23 Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Rise up and walk? Luk 5:24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralytic, I say to you, Arise, and take up your cot and go to your house.

Jesus continues with simple explanations without confrontation in chapter 6 and 10 with the pharisees, explaining patiently why and from where His authority comes.
Even in chapter 11, where they accuse Him of having power from the devil to cast out demons, He responds by explanation, shortly after He begins strong corrections against their beliefs and practices. It is in the beginning of Chapter 12 where I draw my Truth/relationship paradigm: Fear not man who can destroy the body, but God who is able to keep life. We must speak truth. In Luke 12:49 Jesus says He hasn't come to bring peace, but a sword, pitting relatives against relatives. This is the war of truth that cannot be neglected. In the middle of chapter 16, He continues without vitriol in His responses to the Pharisees indignation and opposition.
In Luke 19:45 Jesus is indignant about the money trading in the temple and He overturns the money tables.

Relationship without truth isn't caring. In Jesus' ministry, He chose specific situations for His response. When the confrontation called for truth, He spoke it plainly. When He was confronted with angst, he responded as needed to the situation. He was compassionate toward the harlot and adulteress, yet spoke undiluted truth to them.

In emulation, we must be truthful. We must be compassionate until we deem such is ineffective for truthful conveyance.

My rule of thumb then is: Truth and relationship but truth when relationship isn't possible. For me, this sums up Jesus' actions and ministry and is my paradigm for emulation. I will be as congenial as possible but will not sacrifice truth for its sake.

I do but good luck with it as some seem insistent that you can choose to be attracted to that which you simply aren't, despite any protestations you offer to the contrary unfortunately....

It's not about choosing whom you're attracted to -- it's recognizing that some people are off-limits. Regardless of how attractive you may or may not find them.

If you want to have sex with men or married women, that's on you. I'm commanded not to do these sorts of things. And I'm not going to call that okay just because some other people see it that way. God says it's wrong.

It's not about choosing whom you're attracted to -- it's recognizing that some people are off-limits. Regardless of how attractive you may or may not find them.

If you want to have sex with men or married women, that's on you. I'm commanded not to do these sorts of things. And I'm not going to call that okay just because some other people see it that way. God says it's wrong.

Then in context, who's to say the hairdresser TH refers to goes around having sex with men? He may well do for all I know but I value TH's assessment of his person and character above solely his actual orientation and consentual relations regardless.

And that seems to be the trouble for a lot of the more zealous when it comes to the subject of homosexuality. They simply want to paint gays as ogres and make them scapegoats for practically anything they find disreputable in society, and nine times out of ten it's due to personal hang ups rather than any genuine concern for the actual 'fabric of society' IMO. It's simply a soapbox opportunity to vent against those who they're personally disgusted by and have a platform for such to be heard.

Some of the measures the ultra zealous would deign would return us back to the dark ages frankly....